education 31 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ugandan Schools Defy Ban, Offer Online Lessons During Holidays
Despite a government ban on holiday classes, some Ugandan schools and teachers are opting for online lessons, citing parental demand and curriculum pressure, while others warn of a widening educational gap for less privileged students. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/education/why-schools-teachers-opt-for-online-lessons-in-defiance-of-government-orders-5577824
Ugandan schools are increasingly turning to online platforms to deliver lessons during official school holidays, defying a directive from the Ministry of Education. This trend highlights the pressure faced by both schools and parents to keep students engaged academically, particularly for examination candidates.
While the government, through Education Minister Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, insists that holiday classes are illegal and students need time to rest and bond with families, the reality on the ground suggests otherwise. Some schools argue that they shift to online formats to cover the curriculum effectively and meet parental expectations for continuous learning.
Gayaza High School’s deputy headteacher, Ms. Rebecca Kampumure, explained that her institution focuses on completing the syllabus within official terms, dedicating the third term to revision. However, she acknowledged that some parents actively seek extra lessons for their children, either to keep them occupied or to help them catch up.
“Some parents ask individual teachers to keep their children occupied while they are away. In other cases, it is the parents who request online teaching because when they go to work, the children spend a lot of time on WhatsApp and Instagram,” she stated.
This shift to online learning, however, creates a divide. While some parents can afford devices, data, and fees for online classes, others are left behind. One father in Kampala expressed his inability to pay the Shs 300,000 fee for his two children in candidate classes, highlighting the financial strain.
Former headteacher Dr. Augustine Mugabo has criticized holiday lessons, labeling them exploitative. He advocates for schools to utilize official term time efficiently and suggested providing free revision materials for independent study instead of charging for holiday classes. The government has directed District Education Officers to enforce the ban on holiday classes, with reports of teachers being arrested for non-compliance.